Margaret H. Blessey, 88, avid gardener

Margaret H. Maione Blessey, a former longtime Ridgefielder, died at Pope John Paul Center in Danbury on Wednesday, Oct. 24. She was 88 years old and the widow of Robert L. Blessey.
Born Aug. 20, 1913, in Flushing, N.Y., Mrs. Blessey was one of 10 children of Italian immigrants Charles and Maria Maione. A housewife, mother and avid gardener, she was often seen planting and caring for the island, near her home, at the intersection of King Lane and Peaceable Street.
The Blessey family came to Ridgefield from Long Island in 1967 and lived at 183 Peaceable Street. Mr. and Mrs. Blessey moved to the Pope John Paul Center in Danbury in 1996. Mr. Blessey died in February 2000.
Mrs. Blessey is survived by four sons: Richard and his wife Lucille of Brookfield: Robert Jr. and his wife Carmen of Katonah, N.Y.; Raymond and his wife Sue of Manhattan Beach, Calif., and Ronald of Santa Fe, N.M.; and her sister, Fanny Yosca, of Burbank, Calif. She also leaves nine grandchildren Ryan, Noelle, Rodd, Noah, Ralph, Molly, Marla, Bryan and Natesha and one great-granddaughter, Cailin Ann Blessey.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday at St. Joseph’s Church in Brookfield. Burial was in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Danbury.
Contributions in her memory may be made to either: St. Joseph’s Church, 159 Whisconier Road, Brookfield, CT 06804; or Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 16 Forest Road, New Canaan, CT 06840.